Two members of the Saudi royal family arbitrarily detained since January 2018
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December 02, 2020
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May 16, 2022
On January 4 2018, Salman Al Saud, the cousin of the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, was asked to report to the Saudi royal palace. After arriving at the palace at around 4 am, Salman Al Saud was then beaten before being abducted by a group of 20 guards, in the presence of Saud Al Qahtani, the crown prince’s close adviser, who had ordered the beating.
The next day, around 50 police officers raided the house of Al Saud’s father, Abdulaziz Al Saud, and arrested him.
Qatari student arbitrarily detained since July 2018 arrest in Mecca
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November 17, 2020
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August 31, 2021
On July 6, 2018, Al Mabahith State Security Forces, dressed in both civilian clothes and uniform, raided the flat of Abdulaziz Abdulla in Al Awali neighbourhood in Aziziyah, Mecca. They confiscated his passport, his birth certificate and registration documents. The security forces then arrested him and took him to Saudi State Security prosecution office. This is where he was last been seen by witnesses.
Syrian national Mohamed Al Imam remains disappeared more than two years after his abduction
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September 08, 2020
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November 16, 2020
Mohamed Al Imam is a Syrian national normally residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He disappeared on August 14, 2018 as he was about to go to work. According to his family, he was abducted before reaching his car.
Saudi citizen arbitrarily detained for criticizing ‘Vision 2030’
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September 08, 2020
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September 09, 2020
On February 7, 2020, Hezam Al Ahmari filmed and shared a video on WhatsApp, which was later shared on TikTok, in which he criticised the presence of a nightclub in his neighbourhood, in such close proximity to a mosque. In the video, Al Ahmari can be heard describing the presence of the nightclub in his neighbourhood as the “price for ‘Vision 2030,’” a reform plan for the country initiated by the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
Women's right activist Loujain Al Hathloul conditionally released and facing a travel ban
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July 23, 2020
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September 29, 2022
Loujain Al Hathloul is a prominent Saudi human rights defender who campaigned against the driving ban and the male guardianship system. On February 27, 2018, Al Hathloul attended the session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), during its consideration of Saudi Arabia, in Geneva.
In March 2018, after returning to her place of residence in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Al Hathloul was arrested by Emirati authorities and taken to Riyadh by Saudi authorities for interrogation. After three days she was released and a travel ban was imposed.
Abdul Rahim Al Huwaiti, executed by Saudi special forces for protesting forced eviction
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June 16, 2020
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October 12, 2020
In April 2017, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) acquired title to an area of land by the Red Sea. The land assigned to this project included Al Khuraiba village. At this time, property transactions stopped and rumours circulated of possible evictions. A group of residents queried the changes and rumours with the Tabuk Emirate, the regional authority,but were told that the rumours were unfounded, and that the suspension of land transfers was a precautionary measure in the best interests of the public.
ACPRA co-founder Abdullah Al Hamid dies in detention following denial of medical care
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April 24, 2020
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September 29, 2021
Dr Abdullah Al Hamid was a 69-year-old human rights defender, writer and founding member of ACPRA*, who was repeatedly subjected to acts of reprisals for his human rights work since 1993.
Saudi Islamic scholar Awad Al Qarni at risk of execution
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December 05, 2019
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January 20, 2023
Awad bin Mohammed Al Qarni is a Saudi Islamic scholar and former university professor who has also been a vocal critic of Saudi Arabia's wave of arrests and travel bans imposed on intellectuals in 2012. He has a following of over 2.1 million subscribers on Twitter.
Saudi Islamic scholar Salman al-Odah at risk of execution
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December 04, 2019
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December 01, 2020
Salman Fahad al-Odah is a Saudi Islamic scholar and prominent media figure, with over 14 million followers on Twitter. On September 9, 2017, Al Odah published a tweet calling for reconciliation between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, following the commencement of the Gulf diplomatic crisis. The following day, Al Odah was arrested and disappeared by national intelligence services where, it is believed, no arrest warrant was ever presented. For over three months, Al Odah experienced severe mistreatment including sleep deprivation, repeat interrogation, and the withholding of necessary medication.
Saudi Islamic scholar Dr. Al Omari at risk of execution
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December 03, 2019
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January 20, 2023
Dr. Ali Hamza Al Omari is a Saudi Islamic scholar and founder of a TV channel which promotes moderate religious values and addresses historical, social and political issues. Additionally, Al Omari is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars which, for geo-political reasons, was added to Saudi Arabia’s list of terrorist entities two months after his arrest.
